Bottle guide and theft-proof latch for vending machines having bottles arranged in staggered stack relationship



Apr]! 24, 1956 F. A. MANCZUK 2,7439037 BOTTLE GUIDE AND THEFT-PROOF LATCH FOR VENDING MACHINES HAVING BOTTLES ARRANGED IN STAGGERED STACK RELATIONSHIP Filed Jan. 2, 1952 JNVENTOR. Fwd/7k Ma/zczak TTORNE United States PatentO BOTTLE GUIDE AND THEFT-PROOF LATCH FOR VENDING MACHINES HAVING BOTTLES AR-v Q$GED IN STAGGERED STACK RELATIGN- Frank A. Manczuk, Kansas City, Kans., assignor to The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application January 2, 1 952, Serial No. 264,543 3 Claims. (CL 221-67) This invention relates to vending machines and particularly to that classof apparatus wherein articles are dispensed individually upon insertion of a coin or other medium, the primary object being to provide antitheft means capable of holding the articles within the storage compartment therefor against removal surreptitiously and thereby positively forcing the purchase thereof as contemplated.

More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in vending machines of the so-called staggered stack type such as disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,369,882, of February 20, 1945, in the name of J. B. Brock, and in copending applications, Serial No. 58,865, filed November 8, 1948, and Serial No. 58,866, filed November .8, 1948, both in the name of Elmer C. Johnson, and each entitled Bottle Dispensing; Apparatus.

In the vending machines of the aforesaid patent and said applications, it is possible to reach into the cabinet of the machine through the discharge opening thereof, manipulate the bottles of the stacks and to remove a bottle withoutthe necessity of inserting a coin as is contemplated by the automatic vending machine.

It is accordingly the most important object of the present invention to provide an anti-theft means for each stack or row of bottles respectively, and each including a spring-loaded latch capable of yielding to the normal gravitational movement of the bottles and operable to prevent upward movement of the stacks which is necessary to stealing of the contents of the machine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide anti-theft means for vending machines of the aforementioned class that includes in combination with the anti-theft device above mentioned, guiding structure for the botles to maintain the same in a predetermined desired path of travel. 1

Other objects will be made clear as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of bottle dispensing apparatus such as forms the subject matter of the aforesaid application, Serial No. 58,866, having a bottle guide and theft-proof latch made pursuant to the present invention, the loading and access dor being entirely removed.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view fa pair of staggered stacks of botles showing the guide and latch of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of one of the guides and theft-proof latches entirely removed from the remainder of the machine.

As in pending application No. 58,866, there is shown in the drawing hereof, a vending machint cabinet broadly designated by the numeral having a plurality of vertical compartments, one only of which is illustrated and designated by the numeral 12. Compartment 12 is adapted to receive a pair of stacks 14 and 16 of articles ice to be vended which are shown to be a plurality of beverage bottles 18 having reduced necks 20 and enlarged heads 22. With the bottles 18 arranged in staggered relationship as illustrated, both stacks 14 and 16 are restrained against gravitational movement by holding lowermost bottle 18a. Such holding means may take various forms and, in the instance illustrated, comprises a horizontally reciprocable roller 24 in underlying engagement with bottle 18a.

Roller 24 is reciprocated between rows 14 and 16 through the medium of a rotatable screw 26; thus, it is readily seen that when roller 24 is moved to the left (viewing Fig. 1), bottle 18a will fall to an underlying receiver 28, where the same continues to roll to an access opening not shown. Such movement of the roller 24 places the same in a position to receive the lowermost bottle 18b of stack 14.

It is seen that with the roller 24 disposed as shown in Fig. 1, it is possible to move stack 14 upwardly and thereby permit bottle 18a to roll past the roller 24'to the left of the latter, and thence to the receiving means.

28. It is for this reason that the combination guide and anti-theft means of the present invention has been perfected, the same being broadly designated by the numeral 30.

There is provided a pair of devices 30 for each stack tical flanges 38 on the side walls 34 and 36. The upper most ends of the walls 32, 34 and 36 are flared outwardly to receive the heads 22 of bottles 18 as the same gravi tate within the chamber 12. It is noted in Fig. 2 of the drawing, that as the channel members receive the heads 22 of the bottles 18, the reduced-necks 20 thereof are partially, embraced by the in-turned flanges 38.

Any' suitable means'may be provided for mounting the devices 30 in place and in the instance illustrated, a pair of spaced pins 40, projecting horizontally from rear wall 42 of the cabinet 10, is provided for each device 30 respectively. A transverse slot 44 for each pin 46 respectively, is provided in the bight 32, thereby affording a certain degree of looseness to avoid any binding as the bottles 18 gravitate. The bight 32 is provided with an elongated, vertical slot 46 for receiving and clearing a small latch 48 mounted for swinging movement on a horizontal axis through the medium of a pivot pin 50. The bight 32 has an out-turned ear 52 struck therefrom for receiving and mounting the pivot pin 58. It is seen that the uppermost end of the slot 46 (Fig. 3) serves as a means to limit the extent of upward swinging movement of the latch 48 into the channel member between a pair of bottles 18. Latch 48 is held biased against such stop by means of a spring 54 coiled about the pin 50.

One end 56 of the spring 54 extends through an opening in the bight 32 and the other end 58 of the spring 54 passes through an opening in the latch 48.

The spring 54 readily yields to the weight of the stacks of bottles 14 and 16, thereby permitting free swinging movement of the latch 48 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. If, on the other hand, any attempt is made to move the stacks 14 or 16 upwardly to seal a bottle 18 in the manner above indicated, latches 48 operate to prevent such upward movement of the bottles. In other words, all bottles underlying the latches 48 are restrained against upward movement by virtue of one of the bottles 18 underlying the latch 48 when the same is in the normal position shown by full lines in Fig. 3, and further by virtue of the fact that the upper end of slot 46 serves as a stop limiting the extent of upward swinging movement of latch 48.

Manifestly such changes and modifications as fairly 3 come within the scope of the present invention are contemplated hereby, and it is therefore, desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention: what: is. claimed as new and. desired tobe secured. by LettersPatent is:

l. Ina vendingv machine. having: meansv for supporting and guiding a pair. of stacks of, bottles in overlapping relation. and. movable structure underlying thev bottles and engageable with one stack ata time to restrain both stacks against downward.movement,.the bottles each being provided with a restricted neck portion and a closure cap, the improvement. of which comprises anti-theft means for each stack respectively, each including a movable latch, yieldable meansv connected with said latch for holding the latter normally biased upwardly in. one direction between a pair. of neck portions and inengagement with the cap thereabove, and stop means within the path of travel of said latch in: said one direction for limiting the extent of upward movement of the latch, whereby the bottles freely gravitate against the action of said yieldable means upon movement of said. structure, but are restrained against upward movement by said latches, the latches being disposed for sliding engagement with the faces of the caps as the bottles gravitate.

2. In a vending machine having means for supporting and guiding a pair of stacks of bottles in overlapping relation and movable structure underlying the bottles and engageable with one stack at a time to restrain both stacks against downward movement, said means including a vertical channel member for each stack respectively disposed to receive and partially embrace the bottles as they gravitate, the bottles each being. provided with a restricted neck portion, an enlarged. head and a closure cap, the improvement of which comprises anti-theft means carried by each channel member respectively, each including a movable latch, yieldable means interconnecting the channel member and the latch for holding the latter biased upwardly in one direction between a pair of neck portions and in engagement with the cap thereabove, and stop means on said channel member within the path of travel of said latch in said one direction for limiting the extent of upward movement of the latch, whereby the bottles gravitate against the action of said yieldable means upon movement of said structure, but are restrained against upward movement by said latches, said channel member having a pair of opposed, inturned, vertical flanges for receiving said necks ofbottlestherebetween with said head of the bottles within the channel member, the latches being disposed in sliding engagement with the faces of the caps as the bottles gravitate.

3. In a vending machine having a compartment adapted to receive a pair 0t vertical stacks of bottles in overlapping relation, said bottles having restricted neck portions and being provided with closure caps, means associated with each stack respectively for preventing upward movement thereof, said means comprising a U-shaped, neckreceiving-channel member; means mounting the member within the compartment for limited reciprocation transversely thereof as the bottles gravitate, there being an elongated, longitudinal slot in the bight of said member; a latch mounted within said slot to and from a position within the path of travel of said caps, said latch being in engagement with the member when in said position for preventing further. swinging movement of the latch and thereby upward movement of the bottles; and a spring interconnecting the latch and said member for yieldably holding the latch in said position, said latch being disposed for swinging movement away from said position by the botles as the latter gravitate in the compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 574,531 Ferguson Jan. 5, 1897 1,393,964 Potts Oct. 18, 1921 1,863,150 Allen June 14, 1932 2,298,884 Hope Oct. 13, 1942 2,369,882 Brock Feb. 20, 1945 

